Representatives of Nebraska Public Power District will be in Minden on June 23 and Franklin on June 24 to hold public hearings for a new 345,000-volt transmission line. NPPD is planning to build the line from NPPD's Axtell Substation, north of Axtell, to a spot on the Nebraska/Kansas border about halfway between Franklin and Riverton. The initial estimated price tag for the approximately 53-mile line is $87 million, with the cost being shared among members of the Southwest Power Pool, a regional transmission organization.Generally, the new power line is needed for two main reasons: to keep electric rates as low as possible and to enhance the area's electric system reliability. Currently, the existing regional transmission grid is unable to transmit the amount of electric energy needed during times of heavy demand. This line congestion causes NPPD to operate its system, including power plants, inefficiently, which costs ratepayers money. By building the Axtell to Kansas transmission line, NPPD will ease the congestion.The upcoming hearings will be the fourth round of project-related public meetings. The first three rounds of meetings (open houses) were held in Axtell, Minden and Franklin. NPPD's Axtell to Kansas project was approved by the NPPD Board of Directors in June 2009. The first round of open houses in September of 2009 in Axtell and Franklin, identified a general study area for the project, provided project information and sought public input.